The Live Screen of the MOBOTIX Camera

The camera automatically opens the Live screen when you access the camera for the first time. Use this screen to change image settings, to use the softbuttons, to open the Setup Menu or to access the password-protected Admin Menu.

The Elements of the Live Screen

Hold your mouse over the elements of the user interface to see the bubble help. Click on the element to go to the description.

Note: Depending on the camera model, the maximum frame rate in the browser may be limited to 1 fps.

Function selector

Use the image control functions to adjust the Live screen to your preferences:

Camera Selection

Select the right, the left or both image sensors, or the automatic Day/Night switch (only available in dual-lens models).

Display Mode

Depending on the camera model, you can use this option to display either different picture-in-picture views or various views of corrected (i.e. undistorted) images (see General Image Settings > Display Mode).

--vPTZ-----------------------

Installation

This command assists when configuring a camera for the first time.

Depending on where the camera has been mounted, select Wall, Floor or Ceiling.

Click with your mouse into the live image to turn the image into the desired direction.

Depending on the camera model, select Set Focus or Set North.

Load View

Select the stored view you would like to see. A view is the combination of a direction and a zoom factor.

Save View

Select the number of a view for which you would like to store the current direction and the zoom factor.

Auto Mode

This feature allows automatically moving between stored positions.

Jump N/E/S/W (only for the Ceiling and Floor mounting types): Switches between the North, East, South and West views. Corresponds to the Auto Move on softbutton.

Surround Clockwise (only for the Wall mounting type): Automatically moves through the four defined views as defined by the Set Focus command. Corresponds to the Auto Move on softbutton.

Views 1-15: Automatically loads the first 15 views that have been stored using the Save View command, one after the other.

Off: Deactivates the Auto Mode. Corresponds to the Auto Move off softbutton.

Zoom

Allows setting a defined zoom level, defining a rectangular zoom area, activating/deactivating the mouse wheel zoom (default isoff) and can reset the pan/tilt features (corresponds to the Center Pan softbutton).

--Recording---------------

Recording

Use this command to activate the recording features. In addition, you can select some predefined settings for continuous recording and event recording in this section. The Add Video Motion Window and Set Video Motion Window allows adding a new video motion window or setting a new video motion window by defining a rectangle in the live image by [Shift]-click, click, respectively. In addition, you can activate full image and live image recording and show/hide the Event and Action Symbols at the bottom of the image area.

--Image-----------------------

Image Size

Select the desired image size or draw a rectangle ([Shift]-click, then click) in the camera's live image, then use Define Custom Image Size to create an image with the dimensions of the rectangle.

Use this parameter if you would like to brighten up the entire image area (see Exposure Settings).

Exposure Control

Select either the Visible Image Area or the Full Image Area exposure mode. The camera displays more options if you have selected the Full Image Area exposure mode. For one thing, you can use one of the predefined exposure windows to adjust the exposure control. Furthermore, you can use a [Shift]-click, click to define a rectangle in the live image and to use it as the new exposure window (Replace Exposure Window) or to add it to the existing exposure windows (Add Exposure Window). In addition, you can show/hide the currently used measurement windows in this exposure mode.

Color Saturation

Use this parameter to influence the color saturation of the image. The higher the saturation, the more intense are the colors. The value -10 produces a gray-scale image (see Color Settings).

Backlight Correction

This parameter (like Brightness) also is used for adjusting the brightness of an image. However, it only affects the darker portions of an image (Exposure Settings).

Sharpness

Use this parameter to set the desired value for sharpness control. A lower value results in a smoother (less crisp) image (see General Image Settings).

JPEG Quality

Select the desired JPEG quality of the generated images.

Focusing Aid

This feature provides a visual aid for properly setting the focus of a MOBOTIX camera lens.

Opens the Administration menu of the MOBOTIX camera, allowing you to change the most important system settings. You need a user name and password of an admins user group (Users and Passwords dialog) to access this menu.

Setup Menu

Opens the Setup menu with its dialogs for changing the image and event settings.

This softbutton will prompt the camera to blink with its camera LEDs for five seconds.

Play Sound:
(Play back a sound on the camera speaker)

This softbutton plays back a sound on the camera speaker. For additional information on recording and using your own audio messages, see the Manage Audio Messages help page.

Play Last Event:
(Plays back the last event)

Plays back the last event recorded by the camera.

Event List
(Event list)

Click on this button to display the Event List dialog. This dialog displays a list with the last 20 events with the corresponding navigation links.

Click on one event link to show the corresponding event image in the player or select a date and time to list the events of that point in time.

Multiwatcher

The Multiwatcher displays the live/event images of this and other MOBOTIX cameras via a "proxy camera". This means that only one camera needs to be accessible from outside of the network and this camera allows you to see live images and event lists of this and other cameras within the network.

Zoom buttons

Use these buttons to control the digital zoom and the panning functions for moving the visible area within a zoomed image:

1x Zoom

Switches the digital zoom off and returns to the regular camera view. This setting will deactivate the Center Pan.

Zoom +

Increases the zoom level (i.e. enlarges the size of the displayed objects). From zoom level [1.1x] on, clicking in the image will move the visible image area within the full image.

Zoom -

Reduces the zoom level (i.e. reduces the size of the displayed objects).

Center Pan

Moves the visible image area to the center of the full image, if zoom level [1.1x] or higher has been activated.

These buttons control specific image features of hemispheric cameras and are thus only available on these models:

Normal Image

Switches to the standard display mode that allows zooming and panning.

Panorama Image

Switches to the Panorama display mode.

Surround Image

Switches to the Surround display mode.

Auto Move on

Activates the N/E/S/W auto mode (Ceiling and Floor mounting types), which automatically moves to the North, East, South and West views. If the mounting type has been set to Wall, this button activates the Surround Clockwise auto mode, which automatically moves to the four views that have been set using Set Focus.

The Image Area

Name

Element

Description

Image area

The image area shows the live images of the camera as well as logos, texts and symbols of the camera. In addition, you may choose from the following options:

If the digital zoom has been activated, you can move the visible image area by clicking with the mouse (panning). If you have activated the Mouse Wheel Zoom settings in the vPTZ Settings dialog, you can use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the image.

The OnScreen Control provides for convenient configuration of the Panorama, Double Panorama and Panorama/Focus display modes (if available). This control allows panning, tilting and zooming the camera's image to find the optimum image section for your purposes. Moreover, the trapezoid correction allows adjusting the skewed (vertical) lines on the image that are common for this type of lens.

Logo

The functions for managing image files, logo definitions and creating image profiles will enable you to use graphic files stored on the camera or from other URLs as logos with transparent areas or as watermark in every image of the camera. Using several logos will allow you to display these logos as banners at a definable interval.

If you are using Time Tables, you may also activate/deactivate the logos in a scheduled manner.

The event symbols in the lower left corner of the image area show the event number (in this case 000807) and the symbols for the activated sensors at the time of the recording. In this image, PI (PIR sensor), VM (Video Motion) and UC (User Click) had been activated.

If an event occurs, the corresponding symbol (e.g. VM) is displayed in red.

If a Time Table profile has been selected in General Event Settings to control the Arming of the camera, off is appended to the displayed action symbols if the time table has deactivated the camera's arming switch.

Attention:

If General Events> Arming has been set to off, event/action symbols and error messages are not displayed in the image.

For failed actions, an error message will appear above the symbols. Open the Text and Display Settings dialog to deactivate the error messages in the image.

Next, save the modified configuration in the permanent storage and reboot the camera.

The Image Programs of the MOBOTIX Camera

The image programs are selected using the pull-down lists above the camera's live image (Quick Controls) in the browser. These programs adjust the relevant parameters of the MOBOTIX camera to the application scenario; any basic configuration should thus begin by selecting one of the image programs.

In a webcam scenario, for example, moving objects can become blurred when illumination fades, i.e. the camera can use longer exposure times when the scene gets darker so as to provide images with good exposure for as long as possible.

If fast images are required, the camera should use a maximum (longest) exposure time of 1/60s in order to obtain a high frame rate. Likewise, the camera should use the MxPEG codec instead of the JPEG codec, since MxPEG will only transfer the changed portions of the image, resulting in higher image rates and reduced network loads.

Note: In order to check or change the settings performed by the different image programs, open the corresponding dialogs in the Setup Menu.

Selectable Image Programs of the MOBOTIX Camera

Fast:
This image program prepares the camera for delivering live images as fast as possible. This means that the image quality is set to Fast, the camera will use the MxPEG video codec, JPEG quality is set to 40% and the maximum exposure time is set to 1/60s. Please note that the highest image rates will only be reached using either Internet Explorer on Windows computers with installed MxPEG ActiveX plug-in or when using MxControlCenter or MxEasy.

Security Application:
This is the preferred image program for security applications. It uses Normalimage quality, the MxPEG codec, a JPEG quality of 60%, a maximum exposure time of 1/5s and the exposure program-2 to avoid blurred rendering of moving objects as much as possible when the illumination decreases.

Quality:
This image program constitutes a good compromise between high-quality and fast images as illumination decreases. It uses Normalimage quality, the MxPEG codec, a JPEG quality of 60% and a maximum exposure time of 1/5s.

High Quality:
This image program puts higher priority on high image quality even when illumination decreases. It uses Fastimage quality, the MxPEG codec, JPEG quality is set to 80% and the maximum exposure time is set to 1/5s. By using the +1image program, moving objects may shown a little blurriness when illumination gets lower, but image quality is better.

Webcam:
Image quality is the key factor for webcam applications. This image program hence uses Highimage quality, the JPEG codec for creating full JPEG images with a JPEG quality of 80%. The other settings (Night Improvement: Off, maximum exposure time: 1/1s, minimum average brightnessOff and the image program+2) allow generating sufficiently bright images for as long as possible; even though the longer exposure times may lead to moving objects that are blurred.

The MxPEG ActiveX Plug-in for Internet Explorer

If you are using Internet Explorer (from version 5.5) on a Windows computer (from Windows 2000), you can use the MxPEG ActiveX plug-in for viewing the live camera images. This plug-in allows you to combine the advantages of MxPEG with the browser-based user interface:

Audio channel of the camera available on the local computer (not for Web or Basic models)

Additional scaling functions in the browser

Panning (moving the visible image area within the full image) with activated digital zoom by clicking in the image.

Note: If fast movements occur in the image, you may see tiles in the image if MxPEG is activated. If you prefer better image quality, you should deactivate MxPEG as described in High Resolution and Quality.

Prerequisites for Using the MxPEG ActiveX Plug-in

Make sure that the following prerequisites are fulfilled if you intend to use the MxPEG ActiveX plug-in:

MOBOTIX camera model IT or higher

Windows computer from Windows 2000

Installed Internet Explorer from Version 5.5

Administrator or Power User access on the local computer (for installing the plug-in)

Suitable security settings in Internet Explorer to install and to execute ActiveX plug-ins. In Internet Explorer, open Tools > Internet Options > Security (tab) and make sure that the following settings are active for the current security level:

Execute ActiveX controls that are safe for scripting: Activate or Prompt

If you have completely closed Internet Explorer, you will need to restart the plug-in the next time you would like to access the camera by again selecting the Browser and ActiveX options in the image controls.

Options of the MxPEG ActiveX Plug-in

If the MxPEG ActiveX plug-in has been installed, right-clicking the image will display a context menu with the following options:

Option

Values

Description

Zoom

1x / 2x / 4x
Center Pan

Use these options to control the digital zoom and the panning functions for moving the visible section within a zoomed image. The functions are the same as for the zoom buttons.

Default View

Set Default View
Load Default View

Use these options to control the functions for moving the visible section within a zoomed image (panning). The functions are the same as for the zoom buttons.

Scale image

0.5x / 1x / 2x

Scales the image of the ActiveX plug-in to the desired size.

Audio from camera

-

Activate this option to listen to the audio channel of the camera.

If the camera's microphone is deactivated, this entry is shown in gray and cannot be selected. If this is the case, open the Speaker and Microphone dialog and activate the microphone.

Changes the access level used by the ActiveX plug-in to access the camera. User access can use all functions of the ActiveX plug-in, Guest disables the audio functions and the zoom controls.

If a password has been assigned for the user or the guest level, the plug-in will again ask for login credentials to access the camera. This authorization is required for security reasons and cannot be circumvented.

About MxPEG ActiveX

-

Displays information about the version of the MxPEG ActiveX plug-in.

The Best Frame Rate

Depending on the camera application (e.g. bandwidth of the data connection), the frame rate requirements may vary greatly.

Fast Images

For security applications that require fast images, you should use a Windows computer (from Windows XP) and Internet Explorer (from version 6) in conjunction with the MxPEG ActiveX plug-in, MxControlCenter or MxEasy for viewing the live camera images. Furthermore, you should provide a data link with sufficient bandwidth for the camera's images.

Click on the MxPEG off button on the user interface or deactivate MxPEG in the JPEG Settings dialog.

Adjust the frame rate to the other factors of the application (especially the available bandwidth) and to your preferences:

The Focusing Aid of the Camera

This feature provides a visual aid for properly setting the focus of a MOBOTIX camera lens. The focusing aid is very useful when focusing the lens of a MOBOTIX D12, D2xM or when exchanging a MOBOTIX standard lens against a tele lens (for example of a MOBOTIX M2x).

To activate the focusing aid, select the Focusing Aid Quick Control and set the value to Enable; the focusing aid will be displayed in the live window. The camera displays a rectangle with a white and black border. This is the image area used by the camera to determine the best focus of the lens (focusing window). The focusing window can be tuned to the area to be focused by using Shift-Click. In addition, the camera shows a green bar. This bar shows the best focus value obtained in the focusing window so far. When changing the focus of the lens, the green bar grows as the focus improves. If the focus decreases again, a red bar appears. The focus of the lens is set to the best value if the red bar covers as little as possible of the green bar or disappears at all. Under some circumstances it is not possible to make the red bar vanish completely. The focus of the lens is nevertheless set to the best value if the red bar covers as little of the green bar as possible. For best results, make use that you use the Full Image display mode and High image quality!

In addition to the visual focusing aid, you can activate the audio output: The pitch of the tone corresponds to the level of sharpness. This can help you to focus the lens without having to see the camera image.

Store to Flash

Using the controls of the Live screen to adjust the camera configuration will keep these changes until the next reboot of the camera, it will not automatically store them permanently. If you have administrative access to the camera, you should store the current configuration into flash memory.